[arch-dev-public] Wlan Linux Broadcom binary drivers

[Eduardo Romero]

Aaron Griffin wrote:
> On Sun, Oct 5, 2008 at 5:27 PM, Eric Belanger
> <belanger at astro.umontreal.ca> wrote:
>   
>> On Sun, 5 Oct 2008, Aaron Griffin wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> On Sun, Oct 5, 2008 at 11:41 AM, Tobias Powalowski <t.powa at gmx.de> wrote:
>>>       
>>>> Hi
>>>> http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php
>>>> just found this on the net, would you guys like to see this drivers in
>>>> core?
>>>>
>>>> If a native english speaker could look at the license of the binary blob
>>>> on
>>>> redistribution, we could integrate those drivers.
>>>>
>>>> I don't have such hardware, so someone else would need to test
>>>> functionality.
>>>> your opinions on it?
>>>>         
>>> Looking at it, I noticed this in section 2.3 (b):
>>> 2.3.    Restriction on Distribution.
>>> Licensee [snip] agrees to defend and indemnify Broadcom and its
>>> licensors from and against any damages, costs, liabilities, settlement
>>> amounts and/or expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in
>>> connection with any claim, lawsuit or action by any third party that
>>> arises or results from the use or distribution of any and all Software
>>> by the Licensee except as contemplated herein.
>>>
>>> That's a little bit scary, to me. And I also thought we wanted to get
>>> away from binary blobs and things like that, especially in core.
>>>
>>> Is there anything that this driver does that ndiswrapper does not?
>>>
>>> Something about that clause seems a little goofy to me. I'm fine with
>>> this, but I think we should steer away from it in core - only because
>>> ndiswrapper already covers this as far as I know.
>>>
>>> Opinions?
>>>
>>>       
>> I'm also concerned by that clause. Perhaps it would be better to not include
>> it in any repo just to be safe.
>>     
>
> I agree. My interpretation is something like: if someone sues Broadcom
> over these drivers, you guys have to pay court costs.
>   
In fact that is what it says, "someone using your package sues broadcom 
and you are going down, pay all court cost." Silly licenses, and to 
think we do not read every license there is, even though they can have 
such hidden evilness.

/me checks all the licenses on his software.